Textile bale layer separator

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for separating the layers of textile bales, of either rectangular or cylindrical shape, and for feeding the separated layers to an opener, blender, card or other machine for subsequent processing. The apparatus includes separating means, and support means for supporting a bale and the separating means in separating relationship with each other and for providing relative motion between them. The separating means includes a parting tension mechanism for tensioning the fibers at the parting line between the bale and the layer being separated from it and producing the parting line ahead of the separating means, and also includes a blade for the removal of any fibers not successfully acted upon by the parting tension. The apparatus may be constructed so that the bale is stationary and the separating means is moved, or vice versa. A conveyor mechanism is provided for conducting each parted layer intact from the bale and to another machine, for subsequent processing.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James K. Merck Pendleton, SC.

[21] Appl. No. 787,296

[22] Filed Dec. 13, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [7 3] AssigneeMaremont Corporation Chicago, Ill.

Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 620,098, Mar. 2, 1967, nowabandoned.

[54] TEXTILE BALE LAYER SEPARATOR 15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 225/94, 83/4, 225/99 [51] Int. Cl B26f 3/02, B26d 4/00 [50]Field ofSearch 225/93, 94, 96, 98,99, 4; 83/4; 156/584; 146/130;82/(Inquired) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,179,3174/1965 Voelker Primary Examiner-James M. Meister Attorney-Joseph H.Heard ABSTRACT: Apparatus for separating the layers of textile bales, ofeither rectangular or cylindrical shape, and for feeding the separatedlayers to an opener, blender, card or other machine for subsequentprocessing. The apparatus includes separating means, and support meansfor supporting a bale and the separating means in separatingrelationship with each other and for providing relative motion betweenthem. The separating means includes a parting tension mechanism fortensioning the fibers at the parting line between the bale and the layerbeing separated from it and producing the parting line ahead of theseparating means, and also includes a blade for the removal of anyfibers not successfully acted upon by the parting tension. The apparatusmay be constructed so that the bale is stationary and the separatingmeans is moved, or vice versa. A conveyor mechanism is provided forconducting each parted layer intact from the bale and to anothermachine, for subsequent processing.

PATENTED MARI 6 I97| SHEEY 1 BF 2 IFIG.1

PATENTEU NARI 6 l9?! sum 2 OF 2 s TOR This invention is acontinuation-in-part of my pending application Ser. No. 620,098 filedMar. 2, 1967, now abandoned and relates to the separating and subsequentopening of the layers of textile bales. 1

Opening, blending and cleaning bales of textile fibers is presently aslow and inefficient process. Devices are known which pluck tufts offiber from a bale in an attempt to perform an opening operationsimultaneously with breaking down the bale. Such devices are not assuccessful as expected for they turn out tufts at a nonuniform rate as aresult of the differences in density from bale to bale, from layer tolayer and layer boundary to layer within each bale. In addition, theoutputs of such devices which pluck from beneath a bale are affected bythe lessening weight of the bale as tufts are removed, and that weightis a factor in the size and weight of tufts removed. In some instances,too, destruction of the natural layer formation of the fibers is notrequired or desirable for successful performances of the followingprocessing operation, in which event plucking of the fibers from thebale occasions at least one unnecessary processing step.

Attempts have been made to'capitalize on the layer construction of thebale by using human labor to separate the bales a layer at a time, butthis is slow and expensive. Unless carefully done, manual separating andhandling of the layers also lessens whatever natural uniformity thelayers possessed while in the bale.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a textilebale layer separator capable of taking the layers from the bale cleanly,with a minimum of long strands and strings of fiber, with little or noactual cutting of the bale or fibers, and following and preserving to adegreethe natural boundaries of the layers.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a separator in whichthe layered fibers are conveyed from the bale in a uniform, controlledmanner and may if otherwise suitable be introduced directly into asubsequent processing machine of a kind adapted to operate upon afibrous layer or layers, such as a card or certain types of openers andblenders. Prior to or simultaneously with such introduction, otherfibers in loose or similarly layered form may be combined therewith, ifdesired for blending or other purposes.

The apparatus of the invention includes separating means and supportmeans for supporting a layered bale of textile fibers and the separatingmeans in separating relationship to each other and for providingrelative motion between them, the separating means including a partingtension mechanism for maintaining tension at the parting line betweenthe bale and the layer being separated from it and producing the partingline ahead of the separating means. The parting tension mechanism whenin its preferred form includes a first parting roll for maintainingtension on the layer being separated from the bale and a second partingroll for maintaining parting tension on the surface of the baleseparated from the layer. The bales may be of the rectangular typecomprising generally planar layers unconnected at their ends, or theymay be of the cylindrical type comprising continuous convolute layerswound around the bale axis or a small diameter tube or arbor concentricwith such axis. The separating means preferably also includes a bladeeffective a predetermined distance rearwardly of the parting linebetween the bale and the layer being separated therefrom to remove anyfibers which, by reason of extreme length or other unusual factors,continue to bridge the interface between the bale and the layer.

In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, the blade maybe of the circular type or of the band type, the separating means may bemoved while the bale remains stationary or the bale may be moved inrelation to the separating means, and the separated layer may beconducted to another machine by itself or with other layers or fibersadded thereto.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the followingdescription of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken togetherwith the attached drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus according to the inventionfor separating layers from moving rectangular bales and submitting thelayers to an opening machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the appai'atus shown in FIG.1, using a band saw blade;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of another embodiment of theinvention wherein the apparatus for separating is moved through astationary bale;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view partially in section, of a portion of yetanother embodiment of the invention wherein interconnected convolutelywound layers are continuously separated from a cylindrical bale, and fedonto a continuous conveyor which in turn delivers the same to a fiberprocessing machine; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. I of the apparatusfor separating layers from a cylindrical bale as shown in FIG. 4.

There is shown in FIG. 1 a plurality of conveyors 10, 12, 14, 16, 17,20, 22 and 24 constituting a portion of a circular path of suchconveyors used to submit and resubmit bales 25 of 'cotton, for example,to separator 26 having separating means including a rotating circularsaw blade 27 having a smooth cutting edge and lower and upper partingtension rolls 29 and 31, respectively. Layers parted by separator 26 aredeposited by tension rolls 28 and 30 onto blender-conveyors 32, 34 and36 which receive the layers in overlapping arrangement for transport toinclined spiked apron 38 and then beater 40 in housing 42 of afiber-opening machine.

Preferably there is more than one separator between the conveyors andthere may be more than one set of blender-conveyors supplying either oneor more than one opener. The use of more than one separator increasesthe diversity of bales contributing to a blender-conveyor. The fiberopener may be of any type adapted to work upon either a single fibrouslayer or a stack of such layers.

Separator 26', FIG. 2, is similar to separator 26 of F IG. 1 except thatin lieu of a smooth circular blade, separator 26 employs a toothed bandsaw blade 44 driven by pulley 46 on shaft 48 of motor 50 and guided byguide block 51. A second motor 52 drives tension rolls 54 and 56 andspacer roll 58 directly by means of pulley 60, 62 and 64, respectively,interconnected with belt 66. Lower parting tension roll 68 is driven bybelt 70 interconnecting pulley 72 on roll 68 and pulley 74 on roll 56.Conveyor roll 76 is driven by belt 78 interconnecting pulleys 80 and 82and conveyor roll 84 is driven by belt 86 interconnecting pulleys 64 and68. Upper parting tension roll 90 is also driven from pulley 64 by belt92 engaged with pulley 94.

Conveyor web 96 driven on conveyor roll 76 carries the bale 25 towardband saw 44 and conveyor web 106 driven by conveyor roll 84 carries itbeyond band saw 44. Upper and lower parting tension rolls 68, 90separate the layer 102 from bale 25 at parting line 1104 ahead of thecutting portion 106 of band saw 44 by maintaining a tension on layer 102and the lower surface 1% of bale 25. Adjacent parting line 104, suchtension acts upon and detaches from either bale 25 or layer 102 fibersbridging the interface therebetween. Band saw M should be set so thatits toothed edge 106 is on a plane with parting line 164 orapproximately one layer thickness above conveyor web 96. Conveyor webmaybe at the same level as conveyor web 96 but spacing it somewhathigher, at approximately the height of cutting edge 106 or higher, helpscreate tension at parting line 104. Spacer roll 56 may be used as anadded support between roll 90 and conveyor web 100. Tension rolls 5 3and 56 may be employed to exert added ten-' sion on the separating layer102. Tension rolls 54 and 56 and parting tension rolls 68 and 90 neednot be smooth but may have grooved, roughened or other types of surfacesand configurations such as the polygonal cross section or rolls 54, 56,68 and 96 in FIG. 2. The travel of conveyor webs 96 and 106 may bereversed by reversing motor 52, when layer 102 has been completelysevered, thereby returning bale 25 to a position ahead of band saw 44.Reversal techniques are not neces sary in continuous feed systems suchas shown in FIG. 1, where there is a constant supply of bales to one ormore separators.

The toothed blade 44 of separator 26 does not cut the fibers engagedthereby as readily as the smooth blade of separator 26, but rather tendsto grasp and move them bodily in the direction of blade travel. Thisremoves the fibers from the interface as satisfactorily as cutting, andhas the additional advantage of preserving the original fiber length.Air suction or other means (not shown) may be provided at the pointwhere blade 44 exits from beneath the bale to salvage the dislodgedfibers from the blade for future use.

Separator 26", FIG. 3, is movable, while bale 25 is held stationarybetween stops 110 and 112 and is supported by conveyor 114. The functionand construction of separator 26" is the same as that of 26' butseparator 26" is housed in cornpartment 116 suspended from one ofrollers 118 behind the static blade 120 and from one of the rolls 122ahead of the blade. Rolls 122, compartment 116 and rolls 118 are drivenas a unit by an assembly, shown in FIG. 3 turned 90 from its actualorientation, including a belt 124 on rollers 126 and 128, roller 128being driven by motor 130 through reversing mechanism 132 interconnectedwith roller 128 by means of pulleys 134 and 136 and beit 138. In theactual position of the drive assembly, belt 124 engages end surfaces ofthe rolls 122 moved thereby. Pivoted spacing links (not shown)interconnect adjacent rolls 122, and are also provided between adjacentrolls 118. Rolls 118 slide in upper groove 140 of frame 142, rolls 122in lower groove 14 The system of FIG. 3 is designed to return separator26" to the end of bale 25 after each layer is separated, but may as wellbe arranged for a circuitous path of travel and use one or more similarseparators to operate on one or more stationary bales.

Parting tension rolls 68 and 90', tension rolls 54' and 56 and spacerroll 58 are similar to their unprimed counterparts in FlG. 2 and themeans to drive them is omitted for greater clarity. Cutting edge 120 maybe linearly or rotationally driven or may be stationary as it moves withcompartment 116.

The separating means in separators 26, 26 and 26" may inclnde theparting tension rolls 29 and 31, 68 and 90, and 68 and respectively,without a saw, blade, or other type of cutting edge. The parting tensionrolls could carry spikes or pins on their surfaces which would securelyengage the fibers and pull the layers from the bale without aid of ablade.

As layers are separated from bale 25 they are directed by tension rolls54', 56 through port 143 in compartment 116 in overlapping fashion toblender-conveyor web 150 driven on rolls 152, 154 by motor 156.

In operation, H6. 2, bale 25 is carried to and through edge 106 on bandsaw 44 driven by motor 50 by conveyor webs 96 and 100. As layer 102passes downwardly over the end of web 96 it encounters lower partingtension roll 68, and surface 108 of bale 25 encounters upper partingtension roll 90. The tension imparted by rolls 6% and 90 along with thatprovided by tension rolls 54 and 56 create a parting line 104 betweenlayer 102 and surface 103 ahead of edge 106 which causes layer 102 topart from bale 25 generally along the natural layer boundaries of thebale. Blade edge 106 acts only to remove persistent strands and fibersthat fail to completely respond to the parting tension. Spacer roll 58and conveyor web 100 set slightly higher than cutting edge 106 increasethe tension on surface 108 thereby aiding in the maintaining of partingline 104. When layer 102 has been completely separated from bale 25,motor 52 may be reversed, returning bale 25 to its starting positionahead of cutting edge 106.

Should the device of FIG. 2 be used in a continuous feed system such asindicated in FIG. 1, no reversal is necessary. In that circumstancelayers 102 from many bales may be deposited in overlapping arrangementon a conveyor-blender, which submits a diverse succession of layers toinclined spiked apron 38 resulting in a good random blending of thecotton input. From there the cotton is submitted to beater 40.

Separator 200, FIG. 4, is similar in concept to the separators 26, 26'and 26" shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the primary difference being that itis adapted to separate the fibrous layers of a cylindrical bale whichhave been convolutely would under controlled pressure about the bale'saxis and about a small diameter tube or arbor initially or subsequentlypositioned at such axis. The arbor 204 extends beyond each end ofcylindrical bale 202 and is journaled between vertically extendinghorizontally spaced legs 206 and 208 at each end of stand 210, wherebyas the layer is removed from the revolving bale 202 and the baledecreases in diameter, arbor 204 drops lower into the slot between legs206 and 208, keeping the periphery of bale 202 in position forengagement by the rolls 212, 214 positioned therebeneath. As shown inFIG. 4, the legs 206 and 108 are slightly canted at an angle ofapproximately 215 relative to the vertical, to partially compensate forthe change in diameter of the bale and facflitate continued engagementof bale 202 by roll 214 as layer L is removed.

Rolls 212, 214 rotate bale 202 in indicated direction and the latterroll exerts parting tension thereon. Lower parting tension roll 220 actsupon the layer L being separated from the bale, and cooperates with roll214 in creating the parting line 216 extending the length of the bale atthe interface between layer L and the inwardly adjacent layer still uponthe bale. The interfaces between the convolute layers of bale 202 definea spiral path terminating at the arbor 204. Rotation of the baleproduces relative movement along this path of parting line 216 and ofband saw blade 218. As is the case in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1through 3, band blade 218 or another device such as the circular saw 27shown in FIG. 1 or the stationary cutting blade shown in FIG. 3 ispositioned in the opening formed behind the parting line 216 so as tosever or otherwise free persistent strands and fibers that fail tocompletely respond to the parting tension.

As shown in FIG. 4, upper parting tension roll 214 resiliently urgedinto engagement with the receding periphery of cylindrical bale 202 byspring means 226 which may be brought to bear on the shaft of roll 214in any conventional manner as the layer is removed. For example, as thebale is reduced to the diameter indicated by the phantom line 22? inFIG. 5, the upper parting tension roii 214 is moved as by spring 226 tothe dotted line position shown in FIG. 5. The lower parting tension roll220 is assisted by roll 212 in outwardly feeding the layer L, as itseparated, downwardly from the cylindrical bale 202. Additionalconveying rolls 222 and 224 may be provided if desired beneath partingrolls 212 and 220 to further aid in delivering the separated layer Lfrom the bale.

Layer L, which in this instance is continuous, may be deposited on acontinuous conveyor 220 which is driven around conveyor rolls 230, 232and delivered to the next stage of processing. A motor 234 directlydrives rolls 212, 222, and 230 by means of pulleys 236, 238 and 240,respectively, interconnected by belt 242. A second pulley 246 on roll222 is interconnected through belt 244 with a spring loaded tensioningpulley 252 and with pulleys 248 and 250 to provide indirect drive ofroll 224 and upper parting tension roll 214. Roll 224 includes a secondpulley 258 and drives lower parting tension roll 220 by means of belt254 interconnecting pulleys 256 and 253. It is to be recognized that thespecific pulley arrangement described is only one example of a workablearrangement for driving the rolls of the apparatus, and the invention isnot limited to any specific arrangement.

Band saw blade 218 performs the same function as band saw 102 shown inFIG. 2 and should have its toothed edge similarly positioned relative toparting line 216, or at a position spaced approximately the thickness ofone layer of the bale above the upper periphery of roll 212. Blade 218is driven by pulley 260 mounted on shaft 262 of motor 264 and is guidedinto its proper position by guide block 266 at its upper flight.

As further shown by FIG. 4, the separator 200, if desired, may be usedin combination with a carding machine 300 or other machine forprocessing the fiber of the layer L delivered from the separator. Thelayers of a cylindrical bale are more adaptable for immediate deliveryto a carding machine, without passing through an intermediate opener orpicker, because such are both continuous and less dense in nature thanthe layers from a rectangular bale. The separator 200 removes layer Lfrom the cylindrical bale 202 so uniformly that it may be fed directlyinto the. feed roll and lickerin 394 of a carding machine 300 adjacentthe delivery end of conveyor 228. Additional fiber from a reserve hopper302 may be blended therewith, if desired, prior to the delivery of layerL to the lickerin 304. Moreover, it might further'be possible to combineor blend the separated layers from several separators, prior to deliveryto a card, or to otherwise utilize the cylindrical bale separator withother fiber processing machines. I

It is to be recognized that although the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and5 and described above discloses a bale supported upon and rotatablydriven by rolls 212 and 214, it would be within the scope of the presentinvention for the bale to be otherwise supported or rotated, or for thebale 202 to remain stationary and the separating means moved around it,similar to the method utilized on the rectangular bale as shown in FIG.3.

It should be appreciated from the disclosure that various types ofstatic or dynamic blades may be used, with either the moving balestationary separator structure or the stationary bale-moving separatorstructure, that both bale and separator may be moved relative to oneanother, that the moving bale or moving separator maybe carriedsuspended from a conveyor, with the separator or bale, respectively,moving or stationary, positioned beneath it.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are withinthe following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for separating the layers of textile bales comprising:

separating means; support means for supporting a bale and saidseparating means in separating relationship with each other and forproviding relative motion between them; said separating means includinga parting tension mechanism for maintaining tension at the parting linebetween the bale and the layer being separated and producing jsaidparting line ahead of said separating means; I said parting tensionmechanism including a first parting roll for maintaining parting tensionon the layer separated from the bale; a second parting roll formaintaining parting tension on the surface of the bale separated fromthe layer; and said separating means including blade means disposedadjacent and rearwardly of the parting line between the bale and thelayer being separated therefrom. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in whichsaid separating means is supported below the bale by said support means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said blade means comprises arotating circular blade.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said blade means comprises a blademounted for movement generally parallel to said parting line.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said support means in-.

cludes a reversing mechanism for returning the bale to a position aheadof said separating means in preparation for successive separatingoperations.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which there are a plurality of separatingmeans and support means and a conveyor mechanism arranged to receiveseparated layersfrom said plurality of separating means in overlappingrelationship for providing a blend of layers. I

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said separating means is stationaryand said bale is movable relative to it by said supa line extendingacross the interface therebetween; means relatively moving saidseparating means and said bale for advancing said parting linetransversely of its length through said bale;

said separating means including parting tension mechanismtensioningfibers bridging said interface adjacent said parting line andthereby detaching said fibers from said layer or from said bale toseparate said layer and said bale; and

blade means disposed a substantially constant predetermined distancerearwardly of said parting line for removal of any remaining fibersthere extending between said bale and said layer. 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8 in which said blade means comprises a movable toothed bladeadapted to remove the fibers without substantial cutting thereof.

10. Apparatus for separating the layers of a generally cylindrical baleof textile fibers disposed in convolute fibrous layers about the baleaxis, comprising: I

separating means for parting each successive outer convolute layer fromits inwardly adjacent layer along a parting line extending lengthwise ofthe bale; I

means for mounting said separating means and said bale in separatingrelationship and then providing for relative movement therebetween in' adirection advancing said parting line inwardly along a spiraling pathcollectively defined by the interfaces between adjacent convolute layersof said bale;

said separating means including a parting tension mechanism engageablewith and exerting opposing forces upon each successive outer convolutelayer being parted and upon the inwardly adjacent layer upon the balefor tensioning fibers bridging the interface therebetween adjacent saidparting line and for thereby detaching the majority of said fibers from'at least one of said layers to separate said outer layer from saidinward layer, and blade means disposed 'a predetermined distancerearwardly of the parting line for removal of any remaining fibers therebridging the interface between said layers; 4 and means for directingeach outer fibrous layer parted from said bale away from said separatingmeans and away from said bale.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said separating means supportssaid bale in part and is positioned beneath said bale.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said blade means includes atoothed blade mounted for movement generally parallel to the saidparting line, and means for imparting said movement to said blade.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said parting tensionmechanism comprises a. roll engaging the outer convolute layer thenbeing thereby parted and exerting a force thereon in 'a direction-awayfrom the bale, and a second roll engaging the periphery of the balerearwardly of said parting line and exerting a force thereon directedgenerally toward the bale axis.

I 14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said second roll isresiliently urged into continuous engagement with the periphery of thebale rearwardly of said parting line.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said parting tensionmechanism is stationary in relation to the bale axis, and saidcylindrical bale revolves about its said axis.

1. Apparatus for separating the layers of textile bales comprising:separating means; support means for supporting a bale and saidseparating means in separating relationship with each other and forproviding relative motion between them; said separating means includinga parting tension mechanism for maintaining tension at the parting linebetween the bale and the layer being separated and producing saidparting line ahead of said separating means; said parting tensionmechanism including a first parting roll for maintaining parting tensionon the layer separated from the bale; a second parting roll formaintaining parting tension on the surface of the bale separated fromthe layer; and said separating means including blade means disposedadjacent and rearwardly of the parting line between the bale and thelayer being separated therefrom.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in whichsaid separating means is supported below the bale by said support means.3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said blade means comprises arotating circular blade.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said blademeans comprises a blade mounted for movement generally parallel to saidparting line.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said support meansincludes a reversing mechanism for returning the bale to a positionahead of said separating means in preparation for successive separatingoperations.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which there are a pluralityof separating means and support means and a conveyor mechanism arrangedto receive separated layers from said plurality of separating means inoverlapping relationship for providing a blend of layers.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1 in which said separating means is stationary andsaid bale is movable relative to it by said support means.
 8. Apparatusfor separating an outer layer of textile fibers from a layered bale ofsaid fibers, comprising: separating means for parting said layer fromsaid bale along a line extending across the interface therebetween;means relatively moving said separating means and said bale foradvancing said parting line transversely of its length through saidbale; said separating means including parting tension mechanismtensioning fibers bridging said interface adjacent said parting line andthereby detaching said fibers from said layer or from said bale toseparate said layer and said bale; and blade means disposed asubstantially constant predetermined distance rearwardly of said partingline for removal of any remaining fibers there extending between saidbale and said layer.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which said blademeans comprises a movable toothed blade adapted to remove the fiberswithout substantial cutting thereof.
 10. Apparatus for separating thelayers of a generally cylindrical bale of textile fibers disposed inconvolute fibrous layers about the bale axis, comprising: separatingmeans for parting each successive outer convolute layer from itsinwardly adjacent layer along a parting line extending lengthwise of thebale; means for mounting said separating means and said bale inseparating relationship and then providing for relative movementtherebetween in a direction advancing said parting line inwardly along aspiraling path collectively defined by the interfaces between adjacentconvolute layers of said bale; said separating means including a partingtension mechanism engageable with and exerting opposing forces upon eachsuccessive outer convolute layer being Parted and upon the inwardlyadjacent layer upon the bale for tensioning fibers bridging theinterface therebetween adjacent said parting line and for therebydetaching the majority of said fibers from at least one of said layersto separate said outer layer from said inward layer, and blade meansdisposed a predetermined distance rearwardly of the parting line forremoval of any remaining fibers there bridging the interface betweensaid layers; and means for directing each outer fibrous layer partedfrom said bale away from said separating means and away from said bale.11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said separating means supportssaid bale in part and is positioned beneath said bale.
 12. The apparatusof claim 10 in which said blade means includes a toothed blade mountedfor movement generally parallel to the said parting line, and means forimparting said movement to said blade.
 13. The apparatus according toclaim 12 wherein said parting tension mechanism comprises a rollengaging the outer convolute layer then being thereby parted andexerting a force thereon in a direction away from the bale, and a secondroll engaging the periphery of the bale rearwardly of said parting lineand exerting a force thereon directed generally toward the bale axis.14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said second roll isresiliently urged into continuous engagement with the periphery of thebale rearwardly of said parting line.
 15. The apparatus according toclaim 10 wherein said parting tension mechanism is stationary inrelation to the bale axis, and said cylindrical bale revolves about itssaid axis.